#in 2024 it feels redundant and obvious in many ways

[rawliverandcigarettes]

Ok gang!!!

It's been a while, and I think it's time to come clear about a plan I used to have, and how I am very unsure about whether or not it's worth doing.

I technically have the first chapter of The Empire of Preys ready to go. I have basically only that. I did plan to release it on the birthday of Halfway Home's last released chapter, but the truth is: it's happening smack in the middle of an incredibly busy time for me, so I have basically nothing ready as far as promotional material goes.

Also, and it was my plan for a little while, I don't think I can sustain the one chapter per week release schedule I once had with Halfway Home --and I had to come to terms with the fact that I do not have it in me to polish that story nearly as much as I did Halfway Home. I still love it, I still want it out... but I think I'll take it much slower and at a more regular "fanfic" pace for me than what I did with HH. The story of TEoP is not completed yet. I am not completely sure on how to go about certain PoV characters. But, I feel like I can't wait for a "perfect" version like I did with HH, or I will never release this story.

So, while I'm not sure whether or not I'll actually post the first chapter on the 20th of April, I will try to begin posting it relatively soon, and make no promises on when the next one will come out.

I have, however, character portraits in the work! It's coming!! At some point!! Maybe this week if I can finish my work by then!!

Anyway, I hope you are all doing fine, and stuff is doing good, and all of the things. <3

[trickarrowsandbatarangs]

Time to make a too-long post about Kate Bishop (because I love her 💜) and her potential future in Marvel comics

The most recent major appearance of Kate Bishop was (I believe, I’m not perfectly up to date on my Marvel) in Avengers (2023)’s blood hunt tie in from mid-2024, and it was GREAT. I loved getting to see Kate in her element, and I really enjoyed the way CF Villa draws her. This new costume took an adjustment period, but I really like it!

HOWEVER. Because she’s my favourite and I’m totally biased, I think she should get an ongoing comic where she’s the/a main character again, and this post breaks down some potential ways I think it would be cool to see them do this!

I hope no marvel news that I’m not aware of comes out while I’ve been writing this that makes this post completely redundant

Also! This is an open invitation to share what kind of comics you’d like to see Kate headline!

Option 1: A New “Hawkeye” Book

- Hawkeye (2017) Vol.1 cover, and Hawkeye (2012) #9 cover

The most obvious option is to give her a new series all to herself. The Kelly Thompson run is really good, and a character-defining comic for Kate. I also enjoyed the miniseries Kate got in 2021 to coincide with the Hawkeye show - I don’t think it was as strong as some of her other appearances, but it was a fun comic that introduced Kate’s sister on-panel for the first time (and gave KB a new look as Hawkeye).

For me to properly get behind a new solo series for Kate, I don’t think I would want it to tread the same ground as Thompson’s - primarily tonally, but also with the move to LA - and would be thrilled to see someone give Kate a type of story she hasn’t been in before (at least as the sole main character).

Maybe it’s just because I recently read a comic set during this period, but something like Grayson (2014) did for Dick Grayson, in giving a character a “spy arc”, I feel like an espionage-inspired run wouldn’t feel out of place (and it is canon that Kate wanted to be a SHIELD agent growing up).

- Avengers (2023) - Blood Hunt tie-in

Alternatively, (and in a very different direction) following up on Blood Hunt and (spoilers for Kelly Thompson’s Hawkeye run) with the fact that Kate’s mum is a vampire, something that learns more into that horror and supernatural side of things and maybe feels a bit Buffy the Vampire Slayer (although with the private investigator background, Angel: The Series might be a better ref) could be really cool!

Going to the other side of Kate’s lineage, taking notes from Clint’s story in Freefall, and having Kate go against her father, who is able to exploit his wealth to get away with it all, could be a really interesting read!

I’m sure there’s many different new takes or types of story to get out of Kate as a character, and as long as it was trying something new, I’d be pumped to see how it went! (If anyone has new directions they’d want to see this character taken in a solo, PLEASE share!)

While I adored the Thompson and Romero run and would’ve loved if it had gone on longer, it was strong and unique enough that I’d prefer to see something fresh as opposed to an imitation.

Option 1b: A “Hawkeyes” Comic

- Hawkeye (2017) Vol. 3 cover, Generations: Hawkeye & Hawkeye (2017) cover, and All-New Hawkeye (2016) #6

Unsurprisingly, as a Hawkeye fan, Fraction & Aja’s 2012 run is one of my favourite comics of all time. Part of this is because of how well the characters of Kate and Clint play off of each other, and I love the weird hard-to-define-but-definitely-codependent relationship that develops.

I also love Clint, so would be thrilled if the pair of them had a new comic together (oh hey! And maybe they could introduce a variant of Charli Ramsey into 616! The more Hawkeyes the merrier!)

However, with that said, similar to my view on the 2018 Hawkeye comic, this dynamic has already been done *fantastically* in this way in Hawkeye 2012, and while I am desperate beyond desperation to see these two together in a comic again, and have their relationship explored, I’m not certain how excited I would be for something trying to get at that and not succeeding quite as well (which - and this might be a hot take - I think the Lemire and Perez run kind of does).

Any new run with these two at the helm would have to

1.) capture their pre-existing dynamic

2.) present this dynamic in a way that didn’t feel like it was just using fraction/Aja’s run as a crib sheet without expanding or adding anything

Option 2: A New “Young Avengers”

The 00s had a young avengers run, the 10s had a young avengers run, it is only fair that the 20s get one as well. Also- I think they’re leaning towards this vis-a-vis the movies, so this could be something we see emerging in the run up.

The 2021 Kate Bishop: Hawkeye miniseries also ended with Kate teaming up with Cassie Lang and America Chavez, and teased potential future missions, so it would be cool to see this trio setting up a new group!

My personal ideal roster would be a bit of a merge between 2005 and 2013’s Young Avengers - with additions from the Kate-led West Coast Avengers team: Kate (obviously), Wiccan & Hulkling (they may be too busy being married space royalty, but they feel essential to YA), Speed, America Chavez, Cassie Lang, with new additions Fuse & Alloy (because I love them), and if we wanted fully fresh blood, add Shela Sexton and Brielle Brooks to the team. I am aware this is… a lot of characters - definitely too many, even - but I could not cut anyone from this list because I love them all.

Oh hey a “Fuse & Alloy” comic run would also be cool as hell. But this post isn’t about that rn.

A criticism I have of both Young Avengers runs is they never quite establish a “status quo” for the heroes to work from. This is probably very much personal taste, but I would enjoy a comic that firmly sets up their day-to-day/Homebase/etc. and then has them going on individual adventures, fighting off threats episodically, or in longer several-issue-spanning stories (I think Thompson’s West Coast Avengers is really good for this).

Option 3: A “Kate Bishop & America Chavez” team-up

- America (2017) #5 cover, Civil War II: Choosing Sides #3

I have an agenda and its name is Amerikate.

I think it is very telling that despite only minor (but great) interactions in Young Avengers 2013 these two were quickly established as best friends by writers afterwards. They play off each other very well, and I love to see their closeness and friendship.

This could be a fun dimension-hopping adventure! Combining an overarching plot of America and Kate traveling these different realities, but also the individual stories and problems of the duo in these realities (and the denizens they would come upon and want to help).

While if I were at the helm, I would obviously want a “Hawkeye & Ms America” comic to build towards a romance between the two, given the flirtatiousness of their friendship (and hey there was even that pitch for them to actually kiss a few years ago), with it starting as two friends fighting crime/monsters/aliens/supervillains/etc. and feelings reaching a tipping point… but honestly I would also be totally okay if we got a comic like this and it was purely platonic, with that kind of teasing flirting vibe that they already have. I love both these characters and their friendship is always so enjoyable to read.

When I first read Young Avengers 2013 years ago as a teen, it was actually America, not Kate, that I initially gravitated towards and went “holy shit she’s the coolest woman alive” and became one of my favourite comic characters. I would love to see America as a title name in a new comic run. Especially because her own solo titles have unfortunately not really been as strong as I was hoping for.

Option 4: “Jones & Bishop: Private Investigators”

Given that “superhero” isn’t the only profession they’ve shared, I can already see the image of this building so clearly in my mind. I think the dynamic they have in comics has been really great to see so far (Jessica Jones’s appearance in Thompson’s Hawkeye is such a good issue), and I would be so pumped to see what direction this could go.

I also think as character parallels, the conversation they have during Young Avengers Special about their different trajectories following a similar event is deeply meaningful and I think about it a lot.

- Young Avengers Special (2005